So Dash had his first puppy class today and he did really well! There was a totally overstimulated and almost panicked Goldendoodle (go figure) and a really reactive and under socialized older Boxer pup as well as a Boston and a Frenchie and an adult Pug and Dash was definitely the best behaved puppy. It's a trainer that starts with positive and will work different methods in to suit different dogs. She said Dash was easy to train and wants to please. He already has sit, walk with a loose leash and come pretty much all the time. Down however he doesn't like and I can tell it makes him feel uncomfortable or vulnerable.

SO here's my question. I don't want to 'force' him into the down in any way. I feel like I need to desensitize him and make him more comfortable in a down position and then the command should be pretty simple, right? Does this make sense? And it it does, how do I go about getting him more comfortable in a down position? If this sounds stupid and totally off, what should I do instead? And no, I don't know any clicker training. It's not something I can read about and do, I'll have to do it in person....it's just the way I learn. I tried to find a clicker trainer but it didn't work with my location/schedule at this point.

~Jeanine

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

Have you tried luring him with a treat?I usually introduce down by putting the dog in a sit and then I pull the treat to the ground so it's about in line with their chest - I don't want dogs moving forward to lay down, though that may not matter to you and if it doesn't then don't worry about it. The dogs will typically put their heads down and try to figure out how to get the treat, and I don't let them have it until they lay down. Some dogs are easier than others.

You can also lure underneath your legs or a chair rung or something so he has to duck to get the treat. Or you could just capture it - take him into a bathroom or other boring room and ignore him. As soon as he lies down, YES and toss a treat so he has to get up to get it. Rinse, repeat and he'll start getting it. Once you are willing to bet $100 that he's going to lie down again, start saying down before he does so and eventually the cue will stick.

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

If you have the patience for it, and can stand the pawing, put a high value treat in your hand and close your fist. Put your hand on the floor and wait. If he's like my dogs, he'll paw at it, bark at it, jump around and do all sorts of wacky stuff to convince you to give it to him. at some point his butt will hit the floor - open your hand!

I had Riggs for six months before he let me touch him while laying on his side. It was a while before he would even lay down and stretch out while I was in the room - and once he did that if I moved (got off the couch for example) he'd pop up off of his side. It was a long slow process.

Ruby hates the down. She does it, but gives you the death glare or the long suffering "you're beating me" look. She's a prima donna bitch, and the first trainer I worked with was very heavy handed... the two didn't mix well.

If you make it fun, he'll think it's fun.

Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.

Just use a marker word (or a click! ) the INSTANT his butt hits the ground. As long as he understands a marker, he'll know that he got it for butt down. Like Michelle said, once he gets the concept of moving INTO the down, you can work on STAYING in the down.

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

Have you tried teaching it with no other dogs around? River refused to do it if Simon was anywhere in the vicinity... but if he was outside or behind a closed door, she was happy to do it. Well, not happy-- it's still not her favorite position-- but more compliant.

"In these bodies, we will live; in these bodies we will die.Where you invest your love, you invest your life." --Marcus Mumford

amalie79 wrote:Have you tried teaching it with no other dogs around? River refused to do it if Simon was anywhere in the vicinity... but if he was outside or behind a closed door, she was happy to do it. Well, not happy-- it's still not her favorite position-- but more compliant.

No, I haven't so I'll give that a shot. Thank you!

~Jeanine

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

I say mark it, he'll nail it If you have your clicker handy you can mark it when he curls up to relax, too!

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07

BigDogBuford wrote:So I tried the treat in my hand thing and Dash sniffed it, pawed my hand a little and then sat and barked at my hand with the treats.

Yup. Keep on waiting. I have teased on top of it... open the hand to "remind" them it's there. Keep them working to get it. Eventually it's likely they will flop down all the way to "work" on getting your hand open.

It's annoying, but eventually usually happens!

Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.

Just wanted to give an update. I ended up taking Dash out of that class because the only advice the trainer could give me was to force him into the down which I think is unacceptable. We started a new class three weeks ago with a trainer that I adore so far. There are only two dogs in this class so it's great. Dash did his first down yesterday....twice in a row! Yay! So far he's got sit, walk with a loose leash, stand, come and down. I'm so proud of my boy!

~Jeanine

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

BigDogBuford wrote:Just wanted to give an update. I ended up taking Dash out of that class because the only advice the trainer could give me was to force him into the down which I think is unacceptable. We started a new class three weeks ago with a trainer that I adore so far. There are only two dogs in this class so it's great. Dash did his first down yesterday....twice in a row! Yay! So far he's got sit, walk with a loose leash, stand, come and down. I'm so proud of my boy!

That's excellent! Glad to hear you found a trainer you really like - it sounds like a good situation. Also YAY Dash for learning down!!!!

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07